Shoe heel construction



Nov.24,1959 -L. J'. GEUDER 2,913,837

SHOE HEEL CONSTRUCTION E Filed April l1, 1958 /7 1 VENTOR.

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This invention relates to improvements in heels, and more particularlyto cushioned heels having a rigid plate therein.

In shoes wherein a cushion is employed and where UnitedStates Patent'Office v '2,913,837 Patented Nov. 24, 1959 F.Fig 2 is a cross-sectionalview taken on line 2-2 of 1g. 1; i Fig. 3 is aperspective view of theunderside of the improved heel construction, showing the elements inthere is a cover for the cushion which is wrapped around the edge of theinsole and fastened to the underside thereof, problems havebeenencountered in obtaining a neatly wrapped edge, particularly in thearea about theheel, as the ordinary insole is not rm enough to provide agood folding edge. Moreover, in conventional shoe constructions, it hasbeen found that the nails which anchor the heel sometimes workthemselves through the insole and protrude into the interior of theshoe, where they may cause considerable discomfort, and even injury,`tothe: wearer. This may also be true of pegs in a pegged construction.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improvedheel construction wherein a specially shaped plate is utilized toprovide a firm folding edge for the heel portion of the insole cover,the plate being so shaped and located that heel nails as well as pegsmay be clinched against its underside.

A more particular object of the `invention is .to pro-. vide in aconstruction as above described a Ushaped metal heel plate, the outeredges of which conform with the edges of the insole to provide a firmsupport around which the edges of the insole-cushion covering `may befolded, the metal having sufficient width and being 4so located as toforma stop for nails and pegs.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a heel construction aheel plate which is durable and long lasting, which is light in weight,and which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

A still further object is to provide a heel construction wherein acovered cushion may be easily and economically included in the heelassembly to enhance the comfort of the wearer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved heelconstruction which will afford all of the advantages above describedwithout detracting fromr the appearance and style of a shoe.

A further object is to provide an improved method of constructing andassembling heels to bring about the above-mentioned advantageous resultswith simple and economical procedures.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of theimproved heel and method of cone, structing the same, and all of itsparts, combinations and manufacturing steps, as set forth in the claim,-and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating one cornplete embodiment ofthe preferred form of the invention, wherein the same reference numeralsdesignate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a wrapped insole showing the improvedheel construction with a part of the insole broken away;

separated condition; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the heel portion of a shoe showingthe improved heel construction.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the 4irnproved heelconstruction comprising the present invention includes an insole 11, ofusual shape and material, the rear of which overlies the heel inthecustomary manner. Mounted on the top surface of said insole is aU-,shaped plate 12, the outer edges of which are shaped to conform withthe heel portion of said innersole 11 andgwhich may be cemented inposition. Said plate 12 is formed of metal or other hard, firm material,and is U-shaped in order to conserve material and to minimize thevover-all weight of the structure without detracting from its strengthand utility. It is preferably relatively thin-sheet metal whichis-somewhat exible. In addition, it has beenfound that the unique shapeof said plate gives it additional exibility which is not present in -asolid plate, and which is desirable in a shoe. The metal is preferablyof less thickness than the thickness of the insole so there is noappreciable increase in total thickness at'the heel.

` Positioned on top of the plate 12 is a cushion 13, which -is formed ofnatural or synthetic rubber or other resilient material. Said cushioncovers and is cemented to the innersole and has its rear portion shapedto conform -to the heel portion of said innersole and plate. :A

lining or cover 14 is stretched over the top of the cushion and has itsedge portions 14' overhanging the edgesof the cushion 13, plate 12, andinsole 11. As seen in Fig. l, the edge portions 14' of said cover arewrapped about the edge of the rigid plate 12 and edges of the insole andfastened to the underside of the insole with cement or other suitablefastening means, thereby drawing the cushion, heel plate and innersoleinto a neat and compact unit.

Heretofore, in the assembly of shoes having a heel construction of thegeneral type shown herein, v and par ticularly where a cushion isincluded,'it has been a diiiicult-and ltime-consuming task to fold andsecure the' covering material#- Primarily, the difliculty lay in thefact that the edge of the insole is not stiff enough to form a goodfolding edge. To remedy this situation several innovations have beenattempted, including the use of temporary iibreboard inserts to providea rigid folding edge. Such temporary inserts, however, had to bewithdrawn after the folding operation, and their removal left an excessof material which made the heel unit bulky and unsightly. With the useof the thin permanent heel plate featured in the present invention,however, it has been found that the cover can be drawn quite tautly andthat the entire heel can be assembled with a much greater degree ofcompactness and neatness.

Referring now to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the metal plate 12employed in the present improved heel construction has still anotherimportant function. In an assembled shoe, the heel 15 is generallysecured to the sole by means of nails 16, and in a pegged constructionthe outsole is secured to the insole by ber pegs 17. It has been found,however, that these nails or pegs are sometimes driven through theinsole, or subsequently work themselves through the insole, and protrudeinto the interior of the shoe causing discomfort, blisters or injury. Inthe present invention, however, the plate 12 is so positioned as torender the protrusion of such nails impossible. As is illustrated inFig. 4, the heel nails 16 and pegs 17 are clinched against the undersideof the plate and the possibility of their further upward movew meritisetectively prevented, thereby providinga nailless heel seat which isboth comfortable and practical. In addition, it is clear from Fig. 4that the pegs pass through the wrapping flange 14.

In previous construction methods, temporary ymetal plates were commonlyemployed, during assembly, to prevent the heel nails from being driventhrough the innersoleand into the interior of the shoe. Such platesjweresubsequently withdrawn from the nished heel and-necessitatedconsiderable additional labor and time iny 'the assembly operation. Withthe use of the heel plate featured in the present invention, however, apermanent guard against protruding nails is provided and, moreover, theeiciency and economy of the manufacturing process is greatly increased.v

In assembling the heel comprising the present "invention, the plate 12is cut to the size and outline of the heel portion of the insole 11 andsecured thereon with cementV or the like. As indicated above, said plateis formed of metal or other hard substance, but its thinness and uniqueU-shaped design give it a degree of flexibility which promotes theunrestricted comfort of the wearer. Moreover, the elimination of thecentral portion of the plate reduces the weight of the structure. v

A cushion 13, of sponge rubber or 4the like, is cut to the size andoutline of the insole 11 and is secured to said insole and plate withcement, the aforementioned cover 14 is positioned over the top of saidcushion and is cut to provide wrap-around overhanging edges 14. The,cover 14 is then stretched tightly over said cushion, plate and insole,and lthe edges 14' of the cover are cemented to the underside of saidinsole to secure said elements together. As has been pointed out, thepresence of the plate 12 provides a rm edge about which the edgeportions 14 of the cover may be conveniently, neatly and easily wrapped.

`The outer sole 19 may then be joined to theinsole 11 by means of pegs17 or conventional methods, and the heel by means of nails 16. The metalplate 12 is so positioned and of such extent thatthe pegs and nailswillbe stopped by the plate, thereby eliminating the possibility ofAtheir protrusion into the interior of the shoe. As will be ,readilyappreciated, the novel metal heel plate employed in the presentinvention thus serves vthe dual function of a folding edge and aclinching piece to protect the foot of the wearer. t t

In addition, as previously indicated, said plate eliminates the use oftemporary fibreboard and metal inserts, as was formerly the practice.Besides reducing the time cludes all devices and structures as may comewithin the spirit and scope of the appended claim, and is not to belimited to the specific details and form describedV above; What I claimis: l In a shoe construction having an insole with' a heel portion,having an outsole with a heel portion, and having a heel: a thin firmplate positioned on top of the heel portion of said insole and having acentral opening and having an outline conforming to the outline of saidheel portion of the insole with the extreme edges of the plate matchingsaid edges of the heel portion of the insole and with said edges and allportions of the plate in the same plane on top of the insole; arelatively thin cushion of substantially uniform thickness positioned ontop of said insole and plate, the extreme edges of said cushion matchingthe Vextreme edges of the plate; a cover of thin, exible materialsecured over said cushion and adapted to be between the foot and saidcushion and having a projecting wrapping flange folded downwardly aroundthe edges of said cushion, plate, and insole and having an inwardly bentportion secured beneath the insole to the underside thereof; and nailssecuring said heel to the heel por-tion of the outsole and insole andhaving their upper ends clinched against the underside of said plate;the marginal edge of said plate being snugly engaged by 1 said'wrappingange and providing a rm wrapping edge.

